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Rubbish collection at White River Market

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, I write with regards to the abovementioned issue.

The White River Market has been in operation for the past 5 odd years and during those years it has grown significantly.

With its growth came the accumulation of rubbish.

In those years, I can count with my hands the number of times the Honiara Town Council came to remove the rubbish.

In those years as well, the market was shut down only to reopen in a short number of days.

Why it was shut down and reopened is unknown.

I would like to know who is responsible for rubbish collection.

I understand people who live along the side of the roads are collecting money from market vendors to use the space in front of their house to sell their produce.

If the Honiara Town Council does not see this as a designated market area, therefore its refusal to remove the rubbish and waste, why won’t they close down the market operation?

Currently rubbish is carted from the market area and dumped in the drains next to the White River Bridge or in the river itself.

This attracted flies and stray dogs and becoming a health threat.

It is very unhygienic and not good for the environment as well as the people who are living next to this rubbish dump.

I urge the responsible authorities to please take action of this issue which has been going on for a long time.

Please Honiara Town Council, do something.

Angellah Anisi

USP Campus

Honiara

Are we missing the target?

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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THE piece of legislation intended to govern the conduct of elections in Solomon Islands is perhaps the best thing that ever happened to this country.

It was gazetted last week. But the weaknesses in the Electoral Act 2018 are beginning to surface.

Steep penalties in the Act do not seem to strike a balance in terms of those who instigate actions intended to corrupt the Act and the ones who implemented them.

Take for example the penalty of a $50, 000 fine, five years in prison or both, being used against those who registered to vote in a Constituency other than their own.

Being made aware of these penalties through media outlets, people are reportedly returning in large numbers to reverse their initial decision. It is a good sign that there still is a degree of respect for the rule of law by ordinary folks.

I contend though that we would be missing the point if we ignore to ask ourselves why the ordinary folks are becoming ‘migratory’ in their behaviour of late.

Why for example have they decided to move away from their own Constituency?

In other words, what is prompting them to do as many have done in registering to vote in a Constituency other than their own?

Is it frustration? Is it the lure of money? What is it?

For example, why did 120 people sail from Ndai Island in north Malaita to Honiara last week so they could register to vote in another Constituency? Or an estimated 200 voters from East Kwaio who were lured allegedly by promises of large sums of money to vote in a Western Province Constituency?

Or the hundreds of voters who have reportedly deserted West Kwara’ae in search of greener grasses in North Malaita?

Or the reported hundreds who came over from Isabel and Central Provinces so they could support a candidate of their choice who is contesting one of the three urban Constituencies in Honiara?

Many of the people who have registered in Constituencies other than their own are largely individuals who voted for losing candidates in the 2014 election.

Their decision to do what they have done is, in a way, a protest vote for being neglected or ignored by the very people who were elected to represent them in Parliament.

What we are seeing today is a by-product of the very conscious decision taken by many politicians to look after only those who voted them in.

This policy of selectivity has produced more divisions and disharmony within communities and Constituencies in the last decade or so than in any other period in our political history.

Until legislative measures are taken to address this political cancer, instigated by none other than the very elected leaders themselves, there is no guarantee things won’t get worse. It only helps the decays and disintegration of this country.

Which brings me to ask why the new Electoral Act 2018 has not made specific penalties against those who masterminded these fraudulent activities? Right now it is the messengers who are being targeted.

It seems we are more interested in dealing with symptoms rather than the cause(s). Any medical doctors would tell you that treating symptoms is unsustainable. It is time the minds behind the various schemes designed to defraud the public are put on the radar.

We have an opportunity to right the wrongs of the past. That opportunity is slipping through our fingers very fast. We have a chance to put the decays of society on a brake or we will have lost an entire generation to the scourge of corruption in this country.

By Alfred Sasako

Taiwan upgrades NRH dengue lab

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The dengue expert team inspected the dengue laboratory and provided the practical improvement guideline and suggestions.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

The dengue expert team inspected the dengue laboratory and provided the practical improvement guideline and suggestions.

TAIWAN continues to support medical health services in Solomon Islands with two experts currently at the National Referral Hospital helping in upgrading the Dengue laboratory.

Medical Technician (MT) of TMC, KMUH—Mr Bo-Yi Huang has been devoting himself to examine the dengue laboratory and assuring quality and exact standard operation procedure for testing, including PCR and ELISA.

Following the first week of September, Dr Ruby Tsai, Jih-Jin, Director of TMC in KMUH organised a dengue expert team from Taiwan to Solomon Islands.

The idea is to hold a conference regarding innovative strategies for mosquito borne diseases.

With that, the team donated and introduced new diagnostic tools with total value up to SBD$130,000 to NRH, MHMS and SIG for more rapid and accurate identification for mosquito borne diseases.

The dengue expert team also inspected the dengue laboratory and provided the practical improvement guideline and suggestions.

MT Bo-Yi Huang also trained local staff of NRH to use these new tools.

Through practicing traditional and updated methods, the local MTs could be well equipped with the skills to prepare for the future challenge of any possible dengue outbreak.

The precise diagnosis could offer proper clinical management and thus reduce severity and mortality of dengue fever.

Recently, Taiwan MOFA also dispatched another scale-up support for maintenance and renovation of dengue laboratory with the total value up to SBD$450,000.

Both Taiwan government and KMUH paid efforts for strengthening the function of this dengue laboratory to maximize practical help for patients in Solomon Islands.

The dengue laboratory of NRH was set up after the first big dengue outbreak in 2013.

This laboratory was designed by the Tropical Medicine Center (TMC) of Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital (KMUH) under the grant support of Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Taiwan.

This laboratory was donated to NRH in 2014, and under the technical support from KMUH ever since.

KMUH persistently provided the maintenance, quality assurance and updated diagnostic techniques.

Minister Tozaka addresses Mandela’s Peace Summit at UNGA

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Minister Milner Tozaka, Ambassador Sisilo and foreign ministry officials at the summit on Tuesday.
Foreign Affairs minister Milner Tozaka addressing the Mandela Peace
Summit at the UNGA in New York.

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Milner Tozaka on Tuesday joined world leaders in reinforcing the message of peace and ideals of humanity in a Peace Summit held at UN General Assembly.

When delivering his statement at the Nelson Mandela’s Peace Summit, Minister Tozaka reminded global leaders of their ultimate responsibility to ensure the next generations do not inherit a world full of fear and depredation.

The Nelson Mandela Peace Summit was hosted at the United Nations General Assembly in honour of the centenary of Nelson Mandela‘s birth.

The High Level Peace Summit drew leaders from across the United Nations membership, sharing the ideals and values of Nelson Mandela.

“In the midst of all current challenges and calamities that have gripped our world, this Peace Summit is fitting and timely,” he said.

Minister Tozaka said global leaders must exploit all means to let peace prevail.

“We must strive towards eliminating conflict by building bridges and forging partnership and relations despite our differences,” he said.

Tozaka emphasised that the role of the UN Charter is a guiding framework to facilitate peaceful interaction.

“Since its inception the United Nations continues to actively advocate on the platform of peace. The UN Charter firmly remains the compass, which sets our course of action. It compels each us of the shared duty to uphold peaceful co-existence within and amongst countries. And that we must seek settlement of disputes, and use intensive, sustained and inclusive dialogue as a first resort in resolving differences and conflicts,” he said.

Tozaka told the Summit that bitter rivalries and warfare serve no purpose if more emphasis is placed on promoting reconciliation amongst our people and between nations.

“We commit to sustained attention and support for activities aimed at preventing the outbreak, escalation, continuation and recurrence of conflict, addressing root causes, assisting parties to conflict to end hostilities, ensuring national, regional and global reconciliation, and moving towards recovery, reconstruction and development,” he said.

Minister Milner Tozaka, Ambassador Sisilo and foreign ministry officials at the summit on Tuesday.

Tozaka added that the seeds of peace, germinates development, economic prosperity and sustained growth.

“Peace building and nation building are ideals which foster unity, particularly in post conflict states. I speak on the experience of Solomon Islands as a post conflict state, aspiring to maintain sustainable peace. Peaceful co-existence of communities and peoples must not be elusive or taken for granted,” Tozaka said.

The Foreign Minister also adds that the value of peace and humanity is priceless.

He said Nelson Mandela’s life and his ability to overcome adversities and triumph sets the benchmark in leadership that everyone should aspire.

The Foreign Minister also assured of Solomon Islands support to the political declaration on the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit.

–OPMC PRESS

RCDF must be removed from MPs: Ete

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Member of Parliament for East Honiara, Douglas Ete

By Gary Hatigeva

The Public Accounts Committee Chairman and Member of Parliament for East Honiara, Douglas Ete

MEMBER of Parliament for East Honiara and Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Douglas Ete has called for the review of the Rural Constituency Development Funds (RCDF) and suggested for it to be distant from Members of Parliament.

This was in response to statements made regarding the use of the RCDF, being highlighted as one of the main reasons why it has forced a recorded high in the number of voters moving away from constituencies to re-register in others.

Speaking before the passage of a motion of special adjournment on the floor of parliament on Monday, the East Honiara MP stressed that RCDF continues to be deemed one of the reasons why people are moving from their constituencies to others.

This according to earlier concerns from disgruntled electorates is in the manner of looking for members who will listen to their needs, as far as usage of the funds is concern.

This issue is something many also highlighted to be one of the main concerns, which electorates believed is being used only on those close to the MPs and not all.

He then suggested that with this issue raised on the funds, there must be policies surrounding RCDF in the new house so it can be distant from members of parliament.

“This is because complaints that arise are directed towards members based on the RCDF and this is something that is talked about in Hotels, Bars, and on the streets.

“There needs to be a thorough review in the matter of RCDF and I therefore ask any new government to review the policy on it.

“I’m saying this because it has affected votes and elections and many citizens in the country are pointing fingers at MPs who have direct hands on the RCDF, saying they have been using it to win votes,” the outspoken East Honiara MP said.

This issue has been making headlines in the local media as people felt the manner in which these funds are being handled and directed, are a big problem for constituents, who suggested that there is unfairness in the disbursement of the RCDF as a lot from outside the constituency are getting the bigger share or in most cases, all.

Thus, denying the actual people of the constituency the opportunities to benefit from it (RCDF) and other development programs, and the people are of the locked views that because of their direct linkage to this fund, MPs are continuously being blamed, which Ete thought is arguable and something should be done about.

Promise on the 27th for registrants?

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

THE 27th of this month September is an interesting day for many Solomon Islanders as reports have it that many registrants are assured to be receiving extra cash on this particular day.

Interestingly, this is report coming from registrants over assurance they have received by certain intending candidates for next year’s National General Election (NGE).

“Whatever it is that is going on in the politics of this country, everything seems to be going according to plan politically,” raised concerned observers from the general public.

“Recently witnessing going on through the current registering process, many registrants have been receiving bags of rice and other small tokens of appreciation from different intending candidates so we question if such practise is right at this stage of period when we understand that the law being set down by Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) does not encourage such yet. Can the law investigate now rather than having to wait for the objection period or so?”

“To add in a suspicion, many people registering in Constituencies have also said the same thing and this is they have been promised to return on the 27th of this month September to receive more on what they are registering for.”

Whichever maybe the truth, there has been many reports now over the current cross border registration issue in which SIEC too in their recent Press Release confirmed receiving such report.

It is up to investigations now after all this process to prove all these chaos reports.

School principal arrested for alleged rape of 14-year-old girl

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

POLICE at Taro in Choiseul province have arrested a school principal for the alleged rape of a-14-year old girl on September 21, 2018 at Pangobiru in North West Choiseul.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Choiseul Province, Superintendent Vincent Eria says, “This incident is a very sad incident because of the fact that the suspect is the uncle of the victim.

“The alleged incident involves a school principal and it has caused fear among parents forcing them not to send their children to the concerned school.

“As the situation has disturbed the school, Police arrested the school principal and removed him to allow the school to continue with its normal school activities.

“My officers are investigating the incident and I would like to call on both parties to refrain from taking the law in to your own hands and allow police to deal with the matter.”

–POLICE MEDIA

Tax scheme promoter here for nickel mining

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Ewan Stoddart

By Mike Puia

Ewan Stoddart

AN Australian, who was sentenced by the Australian court in 2013 for promoting schemes to avoid tax, is in the country on nickel mining business.

Mr Ewan Stoddart, an accountant from Queensland, is the shareholder and director of Arc Nickel Solomon Islands Limited.

The government, through the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE), has issued Arc Nickel Solomon Islands Limited a Letter of Intent for a Prospecting Licence (PL) to harvest nickel on San Jorge Island in Isabel province.

The Letter of Intent was issued by the MMERE’s Minister, Mr Bradley Tovosia, based on recommendations from the Ministry’s Mines and Minerals Board.

The Board met on May 9 and recommended to Minister Tovosia to issue a Letter of Intent to Arc Nickel Solomon Islands Limited. Tovosia issued the Letter of Intent on May 23, 15 days after the Board’s meeting.

The Letter of Intent allowed Arc Nickel Solomon Islands Limited to collect signatures from landowners for a Surface Access Agreement over a period of six month.

Once Arc Nickel Solomon Islands Limited collected the needed signatures from landowners, it can ask for a nickel prospecting licence.

Mr Stoddart has travelled to San Jorge Island and held meetings there. Landowners who were aware of Mr Stoddart’s background refused to attend these meetings.

Some landowners vented their dismay on the government for giving the individual a Letter of Intent for a PL.

Stoddart, 51, made it to the news headlines in Australia in 2013 when he was sentenced for promoting tax avoidance schemes to several clients while consulting in Gold Coast.

He helped his clients avoided up to AUD$1.4 million tax due to the Australian government.

Stoddart was sentenced to six years in jail for defrauding the Australian Government 13 times. He only served four years imprisonment and was released after entering into a recognizance with security of AUD$2000.

In sentencing Stoddart, Judge Long, said the offences Mr Stoddart committed are serious in nature, as they affect the integrity of Australian taxation system.

The Australian court warned that Stoddart’s case must be a clear warning to those who market tax exploitation schemes.

The Australian Taxation Office also warned other professionals about the risks of advising tax evasion.

Stoddart’s clients were also convicted of obtaining financial advantages by deception in connection with the tax schemes.

According to the Company Haus, Arc Nickel Solomon Islands Limited is registered as a local private mining company incorporated in July 2007 and re-registered July 2010.

Stoddart holds 850 shares in the company while one-time MMERE’s Minister, Mr Basil Manelegua holds 150 shares in trust for landowners and the government.

Prominent names popping up in ‘cross border registration’

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Registration ground at Town Ground.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

REPORTS continue revealing from the issue of cross border registration now becoming more interesting too as some reveal certain prominent people one could not imagine off to involve in influencing.

To note, certain names cannot be revealed as investigation is still carried through, however, one of the recent prominent figures in the country being revealed also was made known just yesterday by Ngella people travelling across to Honiara to register for a certain Constituency in Malaita Province that the prominent individual they mentioned is an intending candidate in.

Ngella people admitted receiving assistance of given bags of rice plus assistance in fuel for travelling and giving small tokens of appreciation promising them to return on the 27th of this month for more cash.

To add flavour from reports, there seem to be the same promise by many intending candidates on that very same date (tomorrow) to offer extra cash of appreciation to registrants which is a very interesting day to monitor according to public observation sources wishing for anonymity.

From such practices reported, the Office of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) strongly warns both intending candidates and registrants to refrain from adversely influencing the registration process understood to be yet currently on progress.

SIEC in a Press Release has also confirmed receiving reports of intending candidates or their agents facilitating the movement of people between constituencies to register (transfer) to a constituency they are not eligible to register in.

According to SIEC, one of the serious offences under the Electoral Act is to influence a voter.

“It can also be seen as engaging in campaign activity outside the campaign period,” remind SIEC.

“A person who engages in a campaign activity outside the campaign period for the election commits an offence that comes with a penalty of $20,000 or 2 years imprisonment, or both.”

SIEC strongly warns intending candidates to refrain from activities that may amount to campaigning.

The Commission also extends strong warning to registrants that transferring registration details to a constituency one is not eligible to register and vote in is also a serious offense under the Electoral Act.

“You could be making a false declaration. It is also providing misleading information to registration officials. Giving misleading information document to an election official comes with a penalty of $50,000 or 5 years imprisonment or both.”

The Commission has issued this warning before the commencement of the BVR update exercise early this month and continues to urge people and intending candidates to do the right thing.

It is understood that the Electoral Act 2018 has already come into force, however, a number of sections will come into force at a later date.

SIEC reminds people who are yet to register to do so before the 27th of September (tomorrow) when the BVR update should end.

Last day for registration tomorrow

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

TOMORROW is the last day for registration for the upcoming 2019 National General Election (NGE) as advice reaches out to those who have not yet registered to do so.

One main area to be mindful off in remembering always according to the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) and the law of this country during this current process of registering being announced every now and then is to refrain from providing false information and doing cross border registering.

The penalty of such once being founded guilty during the objection period next month will be quite hefty for one’s own pocket.

Nevertheless from reminder, Solomon Islands is now heading into its 2019 NGE to select its new Members of Parliament (MPs) to head the country.

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